Columbia County OR Archives Biographies.....Martin, Isaac June 15, 1864 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 19, 2009, 6:28 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     ISAAC MARTIN.  One of Columbia county's successful and progressive 
farmers is Isaac Martin, of the vicinity of St. Helens, whose operations have 
been marked by sound judgment and an enterprising spirit that have gained for 
him the uniform respect of his fellowmen. Mr. Martin was born in the province 
of Quebec, Canada, on the 15th of June, 1864, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah 
(Girvin) Martin. His paternal grandparents, natives of the north of Ireland, 
were of Scotch-Irish descent, and went to Canada at a very early day. Thomas 
Martin was born and reared in Canada and became a millwright and carpenter, 
being a good all-round mechanic. Going to Portland, Maine, he engaged in the 
building business and erected many fine structures in that city. He 
successfully followed his trade during nearly all of his active life, and also 
became the owner of a good farm near St. Philip, Quebec. His wife, who was 
born in the north of Ireland, was brought to Canada in her early girlhood. To 
them were born the following named: James, deceased; John, who lives in 
Manitoba, Canada; Mary Jane, deceased; Thomas, who still lives in the province 
of Quebec, Canada; Oliver, of Kelso, Washington; Isaac; Mrs. Sarah Hess, of 
Wheaton, Minnesota; Albert, of Kelso, Washington; Thomas and Lemuel, deceased 
and two who died in infancy.
     
     Isaac Martin received his educational training in the public schools of 
Quebec and when fourteen years of age left home, going to the logging camps 
near Ottawa, Canada, where he worked for thirteen months. On his return home 
he engaged in railroad work, at which he was employed for a few years, also 
working for awhile on a canal. In 1884 Mr. Martin came to the coast and first 
located at Freeport, now a part of the city of Longview, Washington, where he 
worked in the woods for awhile, later taking contracts to bale hay. He was 
thus employed until about 1903, when he rented about three hundred acres of 
land, where the city of Longview, Washington, is now situated. He farmed that 
tract until 1922, when he sold out and, coming to Oregon, bought forty acres 
of land one and a half miles west of St. Helens. Six acres of the land were 
partly cleared, the remainder being covered with stumps, which in the course 
of time he cleared off and now has here one of the finest small farms in the 
district. He raises large crops of hay, grain, potatoes and strawberries, and 
also operates a small dairy, having a nice herd of Jersey cows and he owns one 
of the finest teams of heavy Belgian draft horses in Columbia county. He has 
made many substantial improvements on the farm, the buildings being good, 
while all of his farming equipment is modern and kept in good condition. In 
his farm work he is ably assisted by his son, Albert Luther and they also 
operate considerable leased land adjoining the home place and are well 
situated for successful work along their line.

     In 1891 Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Mrs. Harriet (Martin) Aney, 
who was born in Missouri and is a daughter of Joshua and Sarah Martin, the 
former born in Kentucky and the latter in Ohio, the father dying in Missouri 
and the mother in Kansas. They were the parents of a large family, of whom 
Mrs. Martin is the youngest. She received a good public school education near 
Lawrence, Kansas, and near Wichita, that state, she was married to Charles H. 
Aney, who is deceased. Their son, Ira Taylor, was born at Wichita, Kansas, 
September 17, 1883, and is now living at Glendale, California, where he is 
employed as a conductor on the Pacific Electric railroad. He is married and 
has three children, Charles R., George W. and Raymond T. Mrs. Aney came to 
Oregon in 1889 and two years later became the wife of Isaac Martin. To them 
have been born five children: Ernest, of Portland, who is married and has a 
son, William Russell, born November 19, 1925; George R., who died in 1916; 
Albert Luther, who remains at home and assists his father in the operation of 
the farm; Mrs. Sarah May Comstock, of Walla Walla, Washington, who has a 
daughter, Hallie Jean, born December 23, 1925; and Ethel, at home. Mr. Martin 
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the 
World. He has always shown an interest in public affairs and for many years 
rendered effective service as a member of the school board. A man of sterling 
character and kindly spirit, he is deservedly popular throughout the range of 
his acquaintance.

Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 928-929

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